Tubing rotating device for oil wells



K. w SOLUM 2,630,181

March 3, 1953 TUBING ROTATING DEVICE FOR OIL WELLS Filed Aug. 12, 1950 6) W wrmekx Patented Mar. 3, 1953 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE TUBING ROTATING DEVICE FOR OIL WELLS Kenneth W. Solum, Long Beach, Calif.

Application August 12, 1950, Serial No. 179,005

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a tubing rotating device ior oil wells, whereby the tubing of a producing well is intermittently rotated, thus reducing the wear on the tubing and also reducing the effect of electrolysis. as well as to insure that the joints of the tubing are kept tight.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel tubing rotating device or" the character stated, in which the motivating device in the tubing to cause rotation consists of a hydraulically actuated ratchet finger.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel tubing rotating device of the character stated, in which the reciprocating movement of the ratchet finger is accomplished. by a novel valve construction.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a novel tubing rotating device, which is simple in construction, is compact in assembly, and does not require an external rod, chain, or the like, extending from the walking beam or other part of the pumping mechanism.

A feature of my invention resides in the novel construction of the hydraulically actuated ratchet finger which is self-contained and automatic in its action.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description, and the appended claim.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my tubing rotating device with parts broken away to show interior construction.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken from line 22 of Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, my tubing rotating device consists generally of a tubing head i, which includes an outer flanged housing 2, the housing being circular in cross-section, and is provided with a threaded cap 3, which screws into the top of the housing 2 so that the pipe fittings may be attached thereto to permit the oil to flow upwardly and thence into a tank, all of which is usual and well known. The tubing head i is positioned at the surface of the ground and rests on a suitable support to sustain the weight of the tubing, all of which is usual and well known in the art.

The well tubing 4 extends downwardly to the bottom of the well and oil flows upwardly in this tubing either by action of a pump,or by the natural pressure in the formation. It is advantageous to rotate this tubing 4 intermittently, this rotation of the tubing resulting in a reduction of wear on the tubing, it also decreases electrolytic action, and also insures that the various joints of the tubing are maintained tight at all times.

A ring 5 is positioned within the head I, and this ring rests on a bearing 6, within the head. This bearing is preferably of the annular ball type, although other bearings may be used, if desired. The tubing 4 is fixedly attached to the ring 5, that is, the ring may be threaded on to the top stand of tubing, or the tubing may be otherwise non-rotatably secured to the ring.

A ratchet l is cut on the ring 5, or is fixedly attached thereto, whichever is most desirable. A pawl 8 engages the ratchet l to prevent backward rotation of the ratchet and attached parts.

A cylinder 9 is mounted on the outer end of a tubular portion A6 of the head I, and I prefer that the cylinder 9 shall be threaded on to the part in. A piston II is reciprocally mounted in the cylinder 9, and a ratchet finger i2 is mounted on the piston H, and the outer end engages the ratchet 1, substantially as shown. A ball and socket 13 connects the finger l2 and the piston l I, so as to permit a small amount of lateral movement of the finger when escaping the teeth of the ratchet l. A spring It bears against the piston H and urges this piston and the finger 12 to retracted position, or as viewed in Figure 2, the piston and finger are urged to the right. That is the finger l2 is moved to a position to engage another tooth of the ratchet l. A hydraulic pipe I 5 extends into a cylinder 9 and back of the piston H, and this pipe continuously admits hydraulic fiuid under pressure which acts on the back of the piston II, urging this piston and the finger I2 towards the left, which rotates the ratchet I in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2.

To permit the piston l l to return to its starting position, and to permit the finger ii? to engage a new tooth on the ratchet l, I provide the following valve construction:

A hollow valve i5 is seated axially with the piston ii and within the recess it, cut in the cylinder 9. A rod ii projects rearwardly from the piston El and extends into the hollow valve l5. A shoulder or head it on the end of the rod i! will act as a stop for the spring [9. When the spring is compressed it will unseat valve it when the piston H has moved towards the left a given distance. The spring l9 surrounds the rod ii and tends to hold the valve l5 in proper position on this rod. A hydraulic return pipe 23 extends from the recess l6 and returns to the intake side of the pump or pressure chamber.

In operation, assuming the parts in the position shown in Figure 2, hydraulic pressure in the pipe [5 will move the piston ll towards the left, thus causing the finger I2 to push against the teeth of the ratchet I and rotating the ring 5 and the tubing 4. When the piston H has advanced to the left its maximum stroke, the shoulder [8 engages the valve l5' and unseats this valve. Hydraulic pressure can now flow past the valve [5' and out through the return pipe 20. This return flow of the hydraulic fluid reduces pressure back of the piston H and the spring I4 then returns the parts to the position shown in Figure 2.

Having described my invention, I claim:

A tubing rotating device for oil wells comprising a fixed head, a tubing depending from the head, a ring rotatably mounted in the head, said tubing being attached to the ring, ratchet teeth on said ring, a hydraulic cylinder on said head and positioned horizontally thereon, a piston reciprocally mounted in said cylinder, a finger mounted on said piston, a ball formed on. one end of said finger, said piston having a socket therein to,

receive the ball, the other end of said finger engagin the ratchet teeth, a pressure intake pipe 4 extending into the cylinder adjacent one end thereof to exert pressure on the piston, a fluid outlet pipe extending from said cylinder, a valve, a seat in the cylinder between the fluid intake and outlet, said valve resting on said seat, a rod extending from the piston into the valve, a shoulder on the rod engageable with the valve to unseat the same, and a spring surrounding the finger and engaging the piston to urge said piston towards said intake pipe, 3, second spring surrounding the rod and extending between said shoulder at one end and the valve at the other end.

KENNETH W. SOLUM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,143,973 Sleinbrahm June 22, 1915 2,239,298 Kraut Apr. 22, 1941 2,294,061 Williamson Aug. 25, 1942 2,471,198 Cormany May 24, 1949 

